MONTREAL – In the 15 years he’s lived near Henri Bourassa Park, Gerardo Escobar says he never noticed any taxing, prostitution, street gangs or armed robberies, despite authorities’ claims that such crimes were rampant.
In fact, Aug. 9, 2008 -when unarmed teen Fredy Villanueva was fatally shot by police -was the first time there’d been any trouble, the Montreal North resident said.
Testifying yesterday at the coroner’s inquest into the shooting, Escobar said he had been in the park playing soccer when Montreal police Constable Jean-Loup Lapointe jumped out of his cruiser with his partner and threw Fredy’s older brother, Dany Villanueva, against the hood of the car.
“When the police pushed his face against the trunk, Dany pulled himself up,” Escobar said. “It’s a normal reaction. He was reacting against what the police were doing.”

See the full article from “Montreal Gazette”

… Fredy Villanueva with his parents, Lilian and Gilberto. Constable Jean-Loup Lapointe of the Montreal police shot and fatally wounded Villanueva in August 2008. He was 18.Photograph by: Courtesy of Patricia Villanueva
MONTREAL – In the 15 years he’s lived near Henri Bourassa Park, Gerardo Escobar says he never noticed any taxing, prostitution, street gangs or armed robberies, despite authorities’ claims that such crimes were rampant.
In fact, Aug. 9, 2008 – when unarmed teen Fredy Villanueva was fatally shot by police – was the first time there’d been any trouble, the Montreal North resident said.
Testifying Monday at the coroner’s inquest into the shooting, Escobar said he had been in the park playing soccer when Montreal police Constable Jean-Loup Lapointe jumped out of his cruiser with his partner and threw Fredy’s older brother, Dany Villanueva, against the hood of the car.

See the full article from “Montreal Gazette”

Boeing’s new 787 aircraft unveiled 00:53 Boeing’s new 787 aircraft unveiled AFP Video Monday, Jul. 19, 2010 11:05AM EDT The first international landing of Boeing’s new 787 aircraft is set to take place in Farnborough on Sunday at the town’s biennal air show.
China’s soaring energy use 01:26 China’s soaring energy use Globe and Mail Update Monday, Jul. 19, 2010 12:41PM EDT Latest IEA numbers mark a sea change as U.S. slides out of top spot
Dream box office weekend for Inception 01:38 Dream box office weekend for Inception AP Video Monday, Jul. 19, 2010 10:27AM EDT Leonardo DiCaprio and Christopher Nolan’s ‘Inception’ is no sleeper as the thriller opens with a No. 1 finish at the weekend box office
AP Video Monday, Jul. 19, 2010 08:07AM EDT
Actress shows a different side of herself as a mother forced into prostitution to provide for her family in The Client List premiering on July 19.

See the full article from “Globe and Mail”

It is heartening to see how the wind has shifted in the teapot tempest over the establishment in downtown Villeray of a hostel for Inuit residents of Northern Quebec who come to Montreal for medical treatment they can’t get back home.
It’s to be located on lower St. Denis St. and would put to some good use the former Chinese Hospital which has stood vacant for the past decade. The reaction from the elements of the community who first spoke out about the project was vehemently not-in-my-back-yard. Shortly after the plan was a-nnounced a website titled “Danger Im minent” sprang up fervidly warning that the facility would lead to a crime surge in the neighbourhood and spawn prostitution, vandalism, and drug trafficking. Borough mayor Anie Samson, of Vision Montreal affiliation, worried out loud that it might dilute the neighbourhood’s “pure-laine francophone” character.

See the full article from “Montreal Gazette”

It is heartening to see how the wind has s-hifted in the teapot tempest over the estab lishment in downtown Villeray of a hostel for Inuit residents of Northern Quebec who come to Montreal for medical treatment they can’t get back home.
It’s to be located on lower St. Denis St. and would put to some good use the former Chinese Hospital which has stood vacant for the past decade. The reaction from the elements of the community who first spoke out about the project was vehemently not-in-my-back-yard. Shortly after the plan was a-nnounced a website titled “Danger Im minent” sprang up fervidly warning that the facility would lead to a crime surge in the neighbourhood and spawn prostitution, vandalism, and drug trafficking. Borough mayor Anie Samson, of Vision Montreal affiliation, worried out loud that it might dilute the neighbourhood’s “pure-laine francophone” character.

See the full article from “Montreal Gazette”

A man convicted of operating an escort agency that used violence to force runaway girls in their early teens to work as prostitutes will have to spend at least a few more months behind bars.
Marty (Fata) Antoine, 27, was recently denied a release by the National Parole Board even though he is months beyond his statutory release date, or the two-third mark of his sentence. The denial places him in a special category reserved for the worst of federal inmates. Less than five per cent serve time behind bars beyond their statutory release date.
…
Antoine was arrested in 2005 in connection with a prostitution ring that forced girls, as young as 13, to work for an escort agency. The agency operated out of the east end of the city, advertised in a weekly newspaper and on the Internet and received about 200 calls daily from clients.

See the full article from “Montreal Gazette”

A man convicted of operating an escort agency that used violence to force runaway girls in their early teens to work as prostitutes will have to spend at least a few more months behind bars.
Marty (Fata) Antoine, 27, was recently denied a release by the National Parole Board even though he is months beyond his statutory release date, or the two-third mark of his sentence. The denial places him in a special category reserved for the worst of federal inmates. Less than five per cent serve time behind bars beyond their statutory release date.
…
Antoine was arrested in 2005 in connection with a prostitution ring that forced girls, as young as 13, to work for an escort agency. The agency operated out of the east end of the city, advertised in a weekly newspaper and on the Internet and received about 200 calls daily from clients.

See the full article from “Montreal Gazette”

Beaudet said she agrees that the project should be studied, but that the results shouldn’t overshadow the positives of converting the hospital, which has been vacant for 10 years, into the Inuit patient care facility.
“All of Montreal, and this neighbourhood in particular, is very multicultural,” she added. “This is a great chance for people here to learn about Inuit culture.”
Beaudet also pointed to economic reasons to support the project, saying it could create jobs and boost local business.
It’s not clear when the impact study will begin.
“This is not our initiative,” Samson said. “We’re waiting for organizers of this project to come to us with a plan.”
In May, a website called Danger-Imminent, run by residents who oppose the project, said it would “lead to a major increase in crime in your neighbourhood,” and made reference to prostitution, vandalism and drug trafficking as being associated with the initiative.

See the full article from “Montreal Gazette”

Beaudet said she agrees that the project should be studied, but that the results shouldn’t overshadow the positives of converting the hospital, which has been vacant for 10 years, into the Inuit patient care facility.
“All of Montreal, and this neighbourhood in particular, is very multicultural,” she added. “This is a great chance for people here to learn about Inuit culture.”
Beaudet also pointed to economic reasons to support the project, saying it could create jobs and boost local business.
It’s not clear when the impact study will begin.
“This is not our initiative,” Samson said. “We’re waiting for organizers of this project to come to us with a plan.”
In May, a website called Danger-Imminent, run by residents who oppose the project, said it would “lead to a major increase in crime in your neighbourhood,” and made reference to prostitution, vandalism and drug trafficking as being associated with the initiative.

See the full article from “Montreal Gazette”

Playlist Nicolas Cage and Jay Baruchel of “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:45:58 The Sorcerer’s Apprentice stars Nicolas Cage chat with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino about what’s spinning on their iPods in this exclusive interview…
Playlist: Nicolas Cage and Jay Baruchel of “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”
“We were just talking about Guns N’ Roses,” exclaims Nicolas Cage, sitting next to his Sorcerer’s Apprentice co-star Jay Baruchel. “We’re huge fans! I think Axl’s one of the great writers of the last century; his piano playing is amazing and that song ‘Prostitute‘ is incredible!”
Nicolas Cage knows rock music inside and out, and he’s just as stoked to talk about it as he is to delve into The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.
Baruchel also has a great grip on music with his own perspective that’s quite enlightened and diverse. They’re couldn’t be two cooler aural aficionados at the center of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, and that’s probably why it has such an action-packed rhythm.

See the full article from “Artistdirect.com”